University of Canterbury Research in AntarcticaPresentation by Justin Harrison

Technician – Department of Geography

For PTC 2007

Justin.harrison@canterbury.ac.nz

Outline

Summary of key groups & working relationships in Christchurch

University of Canterbury involvement

Examples & evolution of Geography Dept. Antarctic field work

Where?

Key Groups – based in Christchurch

Antarctica New Zealand

University of Canterbury:

Gateway Antarctica

Geography

Biological Sciences

Geological Sciences

Engineering

Geospatial Research Centre

NIWA (cri)

Antarctica New Zealand

Government Department

Provide logistic support & funding opportunities

Located at the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch along with US & Italian antarctic programmes

Purpose: Advancing knowledge, appreciation and conservation, of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean for the benefit of New Zealand and the world community, through leadership, partnership, and involvement in high quality Antarctic related activities.

Gateway Antarctica

Interdisciplinary research centre

Pivotal role in Antarctic research at UC

Teaching:

4 undergraduate papers

Post-graduate certificate in Antarctic studies

Close research partner with Geography

Geography – more detail later

Glaciology

Survey grade GPS/GNSS (tracking movement)

Remote sensing (eg SAR interferometry)

Ice penetrating radar

Climatology

Energy balance (feeds into glacier mass balance)

Detailed summer monitoring

Long term monitoring

Latitude gradient project (rock weathering)

Biological Sciences

Extensive research into Antarctic fish & their potential response to climate change

Aquarium at Scott Base – sea water @ -1oC

Monitor heart & respiratory rates using ECG

Aquarium @ Christchurch less ideal using recirculated water @ 0.5oC

Limited work on:algae, nutrients in dry valley soils (life support)

Biological Sciences

Case study & technology gap:

Pagothenia borchgrevinki, cryopelagicfish

Habitat unknown when sea-ice dissipates

Need for suitable electronic tracking system

Very small

Operate in cold, high salinity, possibly high pressure

Either remote tracking or on-board logging & recovery after a year

reasonable cost

Geological Sciences

Extensive geological mapping

Environmental study on hydrocarbon contaminated site

GPR (200&100MHz), HLEM

Geophysical investigation of patterned ground

GPR(200,100&25MHz), TDEM, ERT, EM31, magnetometer

Issues: cable rigidity, battery capacity & generation in remote location, high resistivity of permafrost

Electrical Engineering

Energy audit & design of energy management system – Scott Base

Design field power system – wind + battery

Analysis of wind & solar energy potential

Implementation of solar generation – Cape Bird

Investigation into large scale wind generation for Scott Base (potential for McMurdo Base also)

Geospatial Research CentreJoint venture Universities: Canterbury, NottinghamFuture potential collaborator

Canterbury Plains Test Facility

•Christchurch ideal site due to:

•Reasonable CAA to allow UAV testing

•Low population density

•Close access to variety of environments (sea, plains, mountains, forest, farmland)

•Wide range of local collaborative partners – industry & academic

•UAV & other work potential for polar research in future

POSITIONING ORIENTATION IMAGINGINTEGRATION

Geography – instrumentation timeline

2002/03 – summer rock weathering

2003/04 – full year rock weathering, detailed energy balance summer monitoring

2004/05 – continuation of above + GPS (trimble 4700) & ice radar surveys

2005/06 – continuation of GPS & radar work

2006/07 – installation of Darwin Glacier AWS

Approximate Site locations

• Darwin Glacier

• Scott & McMurdo bases

Rock Weathering – Latitude Gradient Project

Humble beginnings

• Tight budget constraints

• Limited previous instrumentation experience

• winter-over remote monitoring station with only one 12Ahr battery & a 5W solar panel

•Many lessons learned

•eg: use of pre-wired plugs

•Need for specialised laptops

•Insulation often not enough

Harsh realities of Field work

Rock weathering winter #2Wind generation

Ice radar

Detailed Energy Balance - Eddy

3D sonic anemometer

Krypton hygrometer

Vaisala humitter

Light aluminiumtripod

Panasonic toughbook

Detailed Energy Balance - Alfred

• Energy balance study over different surface types•2 levels

•Vaisala HMP45D (t, RH), vector W200-LP (wind sp.)

•Kipp & Zonnen CNR1•Pyrgeometer (long wave)•Pyranometer (short wave)•Incoming & outgoing

•Campbell 23X logger• Power:

•40Ah gel cell•2x 20W solar panel (ang.)•10A capacity regulator

Detailed energy balance - anchoring

Up to 1m ablation expected over 3 months

Use of custom made 1.5m ice-screws

Darwin Glacier AWS

Darwin Glacier AWS– critical restrictions

Site conditions

Located 80oSAblation/accumulation range est. -30 to +50cmExpected min temp ≈ -60oCExpected max wind speed ≈ 75m/s

Iridium modem for daily downloads

Life-time: 1-3yrs

Power managed & data storage backup

Installation by non-technical staff

1-5hr installation window

No component longer than 2m

Darwin Glacier AWS - schematic

T comp. Reg

3x 105Ahr 12V SLA batteries

DC/DC converter

Campbell 23XDatalogger

12W heating blankets

13.8 4.4Vconverter

Irridium 9522Modem

Control switches

Darwin Glacier – Inner workings

Darwin Glacier AWS - Anchoring

Darwin Glacier AWS - control

Thermocouples monitoring temp.

DC/DC converter

General box

Heating blankets

Switches & programming to conserve power

Sat. comms. available 15mins/hr if Vtrue>12.0

Heating to WXT510 on if Vtrue>11.5

Heat blankets on 15min/hr if temp<-5oC & Vtrue>12.2

Datalogger: memory reserve for 13months

Darwin Glacier AWS – Vaisala WXT510

Measures:

Temp, RH, Pressure, wind speed & direction, precipitation

Output options:

SDI-12, RS-232, RS-485

Useful options:

Quick-fit mounting

Heating for wind sensors

Simple setup software

Darwin Glacier AWS – partial meltdown?

Good results for 2 weeksSteady & unexplained voltage drop

Check data & suppliers DC/DC converter drawing 25WSatellite comms lost - ?power management?Fortunate site visit:

Data downloadedBattery voltage confirmed goodDC/DC converter removed.

Data shows voltage from DC/DC over 30V (10min average!) No sat comms after DC/DC removal

damaged 13.8 4.4V converter or switches

The future

Darwin AWS: hope until visit next season

2 more AWS in the pipeline:

Don’t trust retailers – prove performance by testing

Recommend installation by technical staff, or at least more in-depth training of field staff

Work in conjunction with electrical engineering on power system

Build networks & share information with other polar researchers

To Finish:

I would like to acknowledge Nick Key – fellow technician who did majority of design & build work for most of these projects

Other acknowledgements: Wendy Lawson, Christine Elliott, Penny Clendon

I would like to thank the organizers for the invitation

Thank you for your attention

Any questions, comments, suggestions?